On April 19th, the Marrickville Council in Sydney’s inner west, Australia, met to debate and eventually overturn its four months old motion supporting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Campaign against apartheid Israel.

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), the broadest coalition of Palestinian political parties, trade unions, NGOs and networks, warmly salutes those Marrickville councillors who remained steadfast and principled in their support of the three fundamental Palestinian rights that constitute the core of the boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS).

Dear Marrickvile councilors,

We the undersigned would firstly like to congratulate the Marrickville Council in Sydney’s Inner West, Australia for their courageous motion (dated December 14, 2010) in support of the Palestinian-led global movement of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law. The BDS campaign is deeply inspired by the South African anti-apartheid boycott and divestment campaign for freedom and equality.

The following letters were sent to Marrickville Council, Sydney, Australia, in support of their BDS policy ahead of a vote on the policy on Tuesday.

As elected officials who have answered the Palestinian call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and implemented such policies in  the Tudela de Duero, Cigales and Villanueva de Duero municipalities in Valladolid, Spain, we are writing to express our support and solidarity to the efforts currently being undertaken in Marrickville Council in Sydney, Australia.

The international community has failed to hold Israel accountable for